Reminder clock



Feb. 8, 1966 H. A. HOFFMAN ETAL 9 9 REMINDER CLOCK Filed March. 5, 1964 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS JUL/U5 ELLMAN HAROLD AHOFFMAN ATTORNEY 1966 H. A, HOFFMAN ETAL 3,

REMINDER CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3. 1964 )NVENTORS JULIUS ELLMAN HAROLD A. HOFFMA N ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,233,401 REMINDER CLOCK Harold A. Hoffman, 253 W. Seaman Ave., Freeport, N.Y-, and Julius Ellman, 1672 E. 7th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 349,093 3 Claims. (Cl. 58-148) This invention relates generallyto present alarm signals, and is especially concerned with a unique construction and arrangement of program clock.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a program clock which alfords a visible and/or audible signal at a preset time, as a reminder of an appointment or other activity, and may be associated with a diary or writing pad subdivided into intervals having time markings for correspondence with alarm signals. It is another object of the present invention to provide a program clock of the type described which is extremely simple to op'erate, being capable of use without special instruction, and which is well adapted for neat and attractive design.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a progarm clock having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is simple in construction, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings: i

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing a program clock constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

7 FIGURE 2 is aside elevational view of the program clock of FIGURE 1, partly broken away for clarity of understanding.

w FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the clock of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4.is a rear elevational view of the clock of FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front view showing the clock housing of FIGURE 1 in greater detail. v 7

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but with the clock face removed and parts omitted for clarity of understanding.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7+7 of FIGURE 5, with the'clock at 12 'ocloclc.

FIGURE 8 is asectional view taken generally along the line 3-8 of FIGURE 5, with the clock at 2 oclock.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 1010 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-4 thereof, a program clock is there generally designated and includes a base 21 adapted to rest on a suitable horizontal supporting surface. or stand 22 which supports a clock housing 23.

The base 21 may be of generally flat, elongate configuration having in a front portion thereof a generally rectangular, upwardly facing recess 25. The pedestal or stand 22 may upstand from a rearward region of the Upstanding from the base 21 may be a pedestal base 21, spaced from the recess 25'; and, a laterally extending upwardly facing groove 26 may be formedin the base 21 between the recess 25 and pedestal 22.

The recess 25is adapted to receive a diary 28, which may assume the form of a pad of paper sheets, or the like. The sheets of diary 28 are advantageously subdivided into a plurality of spaces 29, as by a series of spaced, parallel lines 30. The spaces 29 are designated to correspond to respective times, say every 15 minutes, as denoted by numerals 31, see FIGURE 1. The times indicated by numerals 31 are at 15-minute intervals, but may be otherwise, as desired. The groove 26 may serve to accommodate pencils or pens for ready access in marking of the diary 28 in appropriate spaces 29.

Interiorly of the clock housing 23 is a clock mechanism of any suitable construction. The clock mechanism may be electrical, or mechanical, as desired. The rear side of the housing 23 may be provided with vent openings 33, as for an electric clock, and a speed-adjustment wheel 34 may also be accessible from the rear side of clock housing 23, as seen in FIGURE 4. i

On the front side of housing 23 is a clock face 35, which may be of the usual circular configuration, and which conceals the clockwork or mechanism. A transparent protective cover 36 may extend sp-ac-edly over the face 35, if desired.

Projecting forwardly from the concealed clock mechanism, centrally through and beyond the face 35 may be a plurality of clock shafts, as at 37, 38 and 39, in FIGURE 7. The shafts G7, 38 and 39 may be coaxial, with shafts 37 and 38 being tubular and the latter received in the former. Further, the shaft 39 may be received in the shaft 38. The shaft 39 may serve to carry a radially projecting second hand 40, while the shaft 38 carries a radially projecting minute hand 41, and the shaft 37 carries a radially projecting hour hand 42. The second, minute and hour hands 40-42 are located exteriorly or outwardly of the face 35 for coaction therewith in the conventional manner. 7

Also carried by the hour shaft 37, for rotation therewith, is an arm 44. The arm 44 includes an inner part 45 fixedly keyed to the hour shaft 37 and projecting radially therefrom for positive rotation with the hour shaft. The inner part 45 of arm 44 may be fabricated of insulat-ing material. Secured to and extending from the inner arm part 45, radially outward with respect to the shaft 37, is an outer arm part 46 which may be fabricated of electrically conductive material, such as metal. The outer arm part 46 is provided on its rear or inner side with a pair of contacts 47 and 48, respectively spaced radially inward and outward along the arm 44. By its con' 'struction, the arm 44 is resiliently deflectable inward o-r rearward, and the distal end portion thereof may be of transversely arcuate configuration, as seen in FIGURE 10.

Mounted in the housing 23, rearward or inward of the clock face 35 and of the deflectable arm 44 are a pair of annular, exposed electrical conductors or switch contacts 50 and 51. More specifically, the annular switch contacts 50 and 51 are arranged in concentric relation about the shafts 37-39, being mounted on a housing Wall 52 and in spaced relation with respect to each other, the former being radially inward of the latter. Further, the radially inner annular switch contact 50 has a radius substantially equal to the distance of contact 48 from the axes of shafts 3739, while the outer annular switch contact 51 has a radius substantially equal to the distance of the contact 47 from the axes of said shafts. The outer conductive arm part 46 thus extends radially across the annular switch contacts 50 and 5 1, and the contacts 47 and 48 are respectively engage-able with the contacts 50 and 51 upon rearward or inward deflection of arm 44 to the position shown in FIGURE 8.

An alarm circuit is shown in FIGURE 6, including an electrically actuable alarm 55 connected on one side to an energy source and connected on its other side by a conductor 56 to one annular contact 51. A conductor 57 may be connected from the other side of the electrical source to the other contact 50, so that the alarm circuit is open between the contacts 50 and 51. The alarm 55 may be of any suitable type, either visual, audible or both, and may be mounted in the clock housing or elsewhere, as desired. The electrical source may be either alternating or direct, of any desired type.

Thus, it will now be apparent that the arm 44 defines a switch serving to close the alarm circuit across the contacts 50 and 51 upon deflection of the arm into engagement with the contacts. The alarm is, of course, thereby energized.

Carried by the housing 23 in an annular array about the clock face 35 and exposed forwardly from the housing are a plurality of deflectors 60. The deflectors 60 are all arranged radially of the shaft axes 37-39 and longitudinally slidable radially inward and outward between operative inner positions and inoperative outer positions. More specifically, each deflector 60 includes a button part 61 mounted for radial sliding between said inner and outer positions, and an inwardly extending cam part 62 movable with the respective button part. The button parts 61, see FIGURES 7 and 8, may be provided with detent means of any suitable kind, such as the resilient detents 63 selectively engageable in recesses 64 and 65' to hold the buttons in their outer and inner positions. The cam parts 62 of the deflectors 60 may each take the form of a rod extending slidably through an apertured guide 67 and having a rounded inner end 66.

- The deflectors 60 are located in positions about the clock face 35 corresponding to -minute intervals of the hour hand 42. This interval of deflectors 60 is thus the same as that designated on diary 28, but may, of course, be otherwise, if desired.

In FIGURE 5, it will be observed that most of the deflectors 60 are in their radially outer, inoperative positions. However, certain of the deflectors 60 have been shifted radially inward to their operative positions, such as the deflector 60 corresponding to 2 oclock. The defiector 60 corresponding to 12 oclock is in its outer, inoperative position. Hence, in FIGURE 7 the cam 62 of deflector 60 is withdrawn radially outward; and, upon movement of the hour hand 42 past 12 oclock; and as the switch arm 44 moves together and in alignment with the hour hand, the switch arm is not deflected by the cam 62. However, upon movement together of the hour hand 42 and switch arm 44 to 2 oclock, as shown in FIGURE 8, the inwardly shifted. deflector 60 by its cam 62 serves to deflect the switch arm 44 inward into engagement and electrical contact with both contacts 50 and 51 to close the alarm circuit. The alarm circuit is closed temporarily while the switch arm 44 is deflected by the cam 62, and until the switch arm rides past the cam and again resumes its undeflected position out of engagement with the contacts 50 and 51. Thus, it is not necessary to turn off the alarm, so that the alarm will repeat every 12 hours if desired. Of course, the deflector 60 may be shifted radially outward to prevent recurrence of the alarm, if desired. As the simultaneous engagement of contacts 47 and 48 with contacts '50 and 51 is only momentary, it will be appreciated that a minimum of wear occurs at the contacts.

Of course, upon actuation of the alarm, the users attention is immediately attracted, whereupon he may refer to the calendar 28 for timely reminder.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a program clock which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A program clock comprising a base, a housing on said base, a clock face on said housing, a clock mech anism in said housing and having hour and minute shafts projecting centrally through said face externally thereof, an alarm circuit, an alarm connected in said alarm circuit, a first annular switch contact located in said housing surrounding said shafts and connected in said alarm circuit, a second annular switch contact located within said housing surrounding said shafts and connected in said alarm circuit, a deflecta'ole switch arm in said alarm circuit and projecting from said hour shaft for rotation therewith, and insulated therefrom, and conductor means carried by said switch arm which is deflectable into simultaneous closing engagement with said switch contacts to close said alarm circuit, and a plurality of deflectors carried by said housing in an annular array about said face, said deflectors being normally located out of the path of said switch arm and selectively shiftable into said path for deflecting said switch arm into said closing engagement, whereby said alarm is adapted to be energized at a predetermined time.

2. A program clock comprising. a clock housing having a clock face, a clock mechanism in said housing and having hour and minute shafts projecting centrally through said face externally thereof, a pair of spaced annular switch contacts in said housing surrounding said shafts, an alarm circuit connected to and open between said switch contacts, a switch arm projecting fixedly from said hour shaft for rotation therewith and spacedly overlying said switch contacts, said switch arm having a conductor part extending across and bridging said switch contacts and being deflectable into simultaneous closing engagement therewith to close said alarm circuit, and a plurality of deflectors carried by said housing in an annular array about said clock face, resilient detent means releasably holding said deflectors in adjusted positions against the force of said deflected switch arm, said defiectors being normally located in inoperative positions out of the path of said switch arm and selectively shiftable to operative positions into the path of said switch arm for deflecting the latter into said closing engagement, whereby said alarm is adapted to be energized at a predetermined time.

3. A program clockaccording to claim 2, said deflectors being arranged at predetermined time intervals about said face and at least partially exposed through said housing for visual indication of deflector location, and a diary on said bas'eand subdivided into said predetermined time intervals for receiving notatons corresponding to alarm settings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES; PATENTS 1,019,193 3/1912 Schneider et a1 58-19 X FOREIGN PATENTS 642,440 9/1950 Great Britain. 1,153 7/ 1889 Switzerland.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner, 

1. A PROGRAM CLOCK COMPRISING A BASE, A HOUSING ON SAID BASE, A CLOCK FACE ON SAID HOUSING, A CLOCK MECHANISM IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING HOUR AND MINUTE SHAFTS PROJECTING CENTRALLY THROUGH SAID FACE EXTERNALLY THEREOF, AN ALARM CIRCUIT, AN ALARM CONNECTED IN SAID ALARM CIRCUIT, A FIRST ANNULAR SWITCH CONTACT LOCATED IN SAID HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID SHAFTS AND CONNECTED IN SAID ALARM CIRCUIT, A SECOND ANNULAR SWITCH CONTACT LOCATED WITHIN SAID HOUSING SURROUNDING SAID SHAFTS AND CONNECTED IN SAID ALARM CIRCUIT, A DEFLECTABLE SWITCH ARM IN SAID ALARM CIRCUIT AND PROJECTING FROM SAID HOUR SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, AND INSULATED THEREFROM, AND CONDUCTOR MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SWICH ARM WHICH IS DEFLECTABLE INTO SIMULTANEOUS CLOSING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SWITCH CONTACTS TO CLOSE SAID ALARM CIRCUIT, AND A PLURALITY OF DEFLECTORS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING IN AN ANNULAR ARRAY ABOUT SAID FACE, SAID DEFLECTORS BEING NORMALLY LOCATED OUT OF THE PATH OF SAID SWITCH ARM AND SELECTIVELY SHIFTABLE INTO SAID PATH FOR DEFLECTING SAID SWITCH ARM INTO SAID CLOSING ENGAGEMENT, WHEREBY SAID ALARM IS ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED AT A PREDETERMINED TIME. 